The Snow Queen 3: Fire and Ice

On December, 2016 the film was shown for the first time all across Russia and the CIS states simultaneously. Building on the success of the first two films, the trequel had simultaneous theatrical openings in Russia, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, South Korea, Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, Cypress, the UAE and Turkey just in time for the New Year holiday. [3] It is also the biggest Russian animation of the year screening in just about every movie theater in the country.[6] Blitz released the third installment in Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, Macedonia, Kosovo and Albania.[18]

On January 1, 2017 Wizart organized a special screening of the animated on the oldest Russian Antarctic station named Mirny. The Russian Antarctic Expedition (RAE) members got the opportunity to be one of the first people to see the animated movie and share their impressions from it. [19]

On January 2017, the movie was released in South Korea over 450 screens. [20] Noting its stunning performance, the movie was presented to the European audience. Wizart concluded a deal with Universal Pictures Video France for distribution across France and the French-speaking territories in Europe and Africa.[18] It was the first Russian animated feature ever released in French-speaking territories.[21] The franchise then headed to Portugal through Cinemundo and Indonesia through PT.Satuvisi Abadi (Onevision Entertainment). [22]

After widespread success over 50 Europe and Asian markets, the movie premiered globally across Oceania the Americas and Africa. In 2017 distributor Odin’s Eye released the movie in Australia and New Zealand. [18] The film released in Latin American territories after California Films picked up the distribution rights.[8] In August 2018, the cartoon was theatrically released in ten US cities via Verticle Entertainment. The animation will be the second Russian release in the US distribution of movies in 2018 after Dislike film.[23][21] The movie released in South Africa, as well as neighboring nations Namibia, Zimbabwe, and Lesotho. Indigenous Film Distribution handled the release for those countries, having previously partnered on the first two Snow Queen films. [24] The animation made its debut in China on April 5, 2018 as the release coincided with the national Qinming Festival. The distributor was Turbo Films.[25] The fantasy adventure has been sold to over 150 countries. [24]

The winter family adventure film was an animation blockbuster. The initial budget estimates of 360 million rubles(~$5.6M USD) was the most expensive animation movie of 2016 in Russia as well for any of the other Wizart's productions. [7] After release of the film to domestic and international screens, the movie set records in Russia(CIS) as well as in China. In Russia the film took in $5.14 million from 1,170 cinema screens.

Wizart Animation has announced that as of April 8, Russian Animation Day, The Snow Queen 3: Fire and Ice became the highest-grossing Russian film in foreign box office. The third installment in the globally successful CGI franchise, added a $26,000 take from just 13 Canadian cinemas to its earnings, bringing its worldwide total (excluding Russia) to $20.28 million. The previous overseas box office record for a Russian film has been held for 12 years by historical/biographical action flick Mongol (2007), a co-production of Russia, Germany and Kazakhstan which brought in $20.27 million outside Russia.[9]

In Bulgaria, the cartoon which has demonstrated the best start among independent animation in the last 20 years entered the top-10 of box-office hits after five weeks in the box-office, the Press Service of Wizart Animation noted. [31] It became a leader of the box-office in the Czech Republic and the Slovakia, the Press Service of Wizart Animation reported, as it released in 215 film theaters. The box-office resulted in 144 thousand euros. As noted by representatives of distribution company Cinemart, “these are the best numbers in the history of screenings of all the parts of the franchise in Czechia and Slovakia in the premier weekend."[32]

The Voronezh cartoon became the biggest-selling Russian box-office hit in China earning $11.55 million and pulling ahead of F. Bondarchuk's World War II blockbuster Stalingrad (2013). Following the results of the first weekend starting from April 5 2018, the third part of The Snow Queen took the third place in the top of the Chinese box-office.[33] Due to the popular demand, the theatrical run of the Snow Queen 3 was officially extended by Chinese film regulators. The film stayed in the theaters until June 2018, coinciding with the National Children’s Day in that month. As a comparison an average theatrical release in China generally lasts for about a month. [34] Adding the strong overseas performance, the movie had a total gross of 24.6 million.[35] The profit was four times the budget(rubles).

A critical review in Russia by Makzim Markov gave the movie 4/5 stars. [36] The film received 3/5 stars from Common Sense media. The critical review noted the film's representation of a positive role model and positive messages. The reviewer noted, "The characters learn the importance of standing by and protecting your family."[37] The feature-length film captivated the audience as Rotten Tomatoes gave the movie 95% score within 125 audience ratings.[38]

Former Walt Disney Animation Studio, Pixar and Dream Works writer Robert Lence gave a positive feedback to the movie. Lence says, "I’m really charmed with wonderful world of the Trolls that the authors have created. It brings a unique story to the animated film. ‘Snow Queen’ is a good message for kids – importance of families and friends combined with humor and fun. The characters realize how they really need each other, the true value of being a family." [13]

In January 2017, the film premiered at the Calcutta International Cult Film Festival. In June 2017, the movie premiered at the Shanghai International Film Festival.[39]

With the success of the film, the trilogy cemented itself as a popular animation franchise. A fourth installment, The Snow Queen: Mirrorlands, was released on December 21, 2018 in Poland and January 1, 2019 in Russia.[46]